You are reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous day.
By Ljubomir Filipović, CdM observer
Yesterday, President Milo Đukanović expanded and elaborated the thesis that Montenegro now needs a European bloc more than a sovereignist bloc. By saying that “demarcation” between the two blocs has been done so far, he said that the DPS must expand its coalition capacity, and that he sees room for that in the gathering of pro-European forces, some of which are in the current Government. He drew attention to the decline in support for one extreme nationalism, this meaning the Democratic Front, which had the wholehearted support of Belgrade.
He sees the solution to the political crisis in uniting European forces, around one European platform. When he thinks of European forces, he counts on the values of the civil state, multi-ethnic society and sees Montenegro as a future member of the EU.
What can be understood from this? The DPS played smart and was the first to lend a hand to the forces in power with which it shares values. Those forces in the Government are now cornered. Either they will accept the hand of the DPS or they will decide to build a better future with the Democratic Front, which has been rejected by all relevant external factors as an extreme right-wing party controlled from outside the country. Whether the Democrats and the URA will have the courage to take a serious direction in overcoming the crisis, or will continue with populism, remains to be seen. Either way, they’ve put themselves in a rather unenviable situation.
For opinion to Brussels
Deputy PM Dritan Abazović was in Brussels, where he met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, after which he said in a statement for RTCG that there was controversy in the security sector, and that he would correct some small mistakes. The body language and the way he spoke showed that he was not the most comfortable visiting NATO. We remind you that Mr Abazović wholeheartedly supported and promoted literally every appointment in the security sector. It is likely that red lines will be drawn for him today during his visit to EU institutions. It is interesting how a part of the Serbian public on social networks, which previously supported Mr Abazović, characterized the visit to NATO as Dritan‘s betrayal.
Government problems
After PM Zdravko Krivokapić said that getting good positions on political basis would not be tolerated, one of those who recognized himself in this, the former mayor of Berane, and the recent director of the Health Fund, Mr Dragoljub Šćekić, replied quite sharply that “at the beginning of fasting, as the believer, he expressed a dose of hatred towards certain political subjects and citizens, who support them, calling these tortured and afflicted people ‘political good position catchers’”.
Mr Krivokapić‘s decision to expel Movement for Changes’ official Veljko Vasiljević from the board of directors at the last moment was sharply criticized in that party. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Branka Bošnjak threatened him that he would get an “adequate answer” for this. Mr Nikola Bajčetić from the same party went even further and called the Prime Minister a fraud and a traitor, and a person “looking at how to deceive those who created him”.
If the proposed budget is not submitted to Parliament by 31 March, the Government will provoke a constitutional crisis. Namely, the constitutional deadline for proposing the budget expires on 31 March, in accordance with Article 110 of the Constitution, and if this deadline is not met, the mandate of the Government will end.
Situation with pandemic
The situation with the pandemic in Montenegro remains dramatic. It was announced yesterday that we lost another 15 people in 24 hours. Day of Mourning was also declared in Cetinje. We remind you that since the beginning of the pandemic in Montenegro, over 1,000 people have died. Minister Jelena Borovinić Bojović does not plan to resign, although the citizens mostly blame her for this situation in the country and the untimely and inadequate response of the ministry she heads.
Power crisis in Tivat?
The Social Democrats of Tivat have asked from the mayor of Tivat Željko Komnenović to urgently inform Tivat residents how he will react to the response of the Ministry of Finance, stating that it will not approve subsidies to entrepreneurs and businessmen from that city. A session of the local parliament is scheduled for Friday, and an initiative is expected to be launched to check the confidence to the Tivat authorities. We remind you that with the help of the SDP, the Democrats and DF officials, who left their parties and created the local list People Win, took power in that city. This situation has affected the growth of nationalism in this municipality known for its multi-ethnic harmony.
That’s it for today. We wish you a nice rest of the day. See you tomorrow at the same time and at the same place.